Codeine Addiction: Symptoms and Treatment Options

You or a loved one may have been prescribed codeine to relieve mild to moderate pain. It is commonly used in combination with other medications. It’s been glamorized in pop culture over the last several years as an ingredient mixed with soft drinks and promethazine in a concoction referred to as lean, codeine lean or purple drank. High doses and repeated misuse can lead to codeine addiction. Let’s explore this hypnotic drug and how to recover from codeine addiction.

Codeine 101 Statistics

There’s no doubt that drug abuse and addiction is prevalent in the United States. Key statistics that illustrate the depth of the abuse of codeine include:

What are the side of effects of codeine?

You may also experience more side effects. If you experience any of the following, talk to your healthcare team or seek emergency medical treatment right away:

agitation and/or confusion

hallucinations

fever or sweating,

rapid heartbeat

shivering or twitching

severe muscle stiffness or loss of coordination

nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weakness or dizziness

inability to get or keep an erection

irregular menstruation

decreased sexual desire

noisy or shallow breathing

difficulty breathing or swallowing

changes in heartbeat

rash or hives

itching

seizures

Another side effect of codeine use is pinpoint pupils. The drug shrinks the size of the pupils, making it difficult to see clearly in dim or dark areas. Your ability to drive at night may be hindered.

If you or a loved one is struggling with codeine addiction, you are likely to struggle with this change in vision as well as signs of overdose such as:

exaggerated feelings of agitation or disorientation

respiratory depression

cold and clammy skin

hypotension

apnea

circulatory collapse

cardiac arrest

These are telltale signs of substance abuse. The maximum recommended daily dosage 60mg every 4 hours (240mg per day). If you or a loved one are taking a higher dose, the drug is unlikely to provide pain relief and you may experience “an increased incidence of undesirable side effects.”

What are my treatment options for codeine addiction?

Treating codeine addiction includes addressing both your physical health and your mental health. You or your loved one have a variety of treatment options available including:

Checking into an inpatient addiction center for more comprehensive and intensive care

What are the signs of codeine withdrawal?

If you or a loved one are experiencing codeine withdrawal, you may experience severe symptoms. Codeine withdrawal symptoms and their duration are different for each person and depend on various factors including genetics, general health and history of abuse.

Although codeine is regarded as a rather weak opioid with fewer risks than other high potency opioids like fentanyl, codeine is still highly addictive.

We can help you

At The Blackberry Center, you will have the opportunity to recover from codeine abuse and to begin the journey to lifelong recovery in our state-of-the-art facilities.

If you or one of your loved ones is struggling with codeine addiction, we can help. We use a personalized approach to addiction treatment. Our focus is on treating the disease, not the symptoms. We put our patients first every step of the way.

Susan Gail Taylor is a content creator focusing on the addiction, health, fitness and mental health arenas. She earned a Master of Arts degree as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Professional and Technical Writing and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She is passionate about animals, whole food plant-based nutrition, fitness and creating valuable content with featuring actionable steps. In her free time, Susan enjoys life and adventures with her husband Nathan and their two dogs Tallon and Kane. She also dedicates time to running, yoga, hiking and biking.

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The Blackberry Center is a 64-bed behavioral hospital in St. Cloud, Florida. Nestled in a tranquil setting just outside of Orlando, our mental health facility provides patients with a safe place to reflect, reset and heal.

Our retreat-like environment provides a tranquil setting in which our patients can heal. We offer 24-hour psychiatric services provided by licensed professionals in various disciplines. The hospital has varying programs that can be tailored to patient needs, including older adult programs, dual diagnosis treatment and general psychiatric care.

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